AUCKLAND  OPEN  - 2024

We have the pleasure of inviting you to participate in the Auckland Open 2024 on Sunday 09 June at the Auckland Pulman Arena, 90 Walters Road, Takanini, Auckland 2112.

Participation in this event is open to the  Karate New Zealand Member Karate Clubs and Associations.

The competition is for Premier, Intermediate, and Development competitors aged 5 years and older for Kata, and 6 years and older for Kumite

Please read this carefully as there are several changes to take note of.

1. All entries must be completed online in Sportdata via your club instructor/designated delegate.
2. Whoever registers the athletes for their club in Sportdata is responsible for informing players, coaches, instructors, parents, and supporters of the Terms and Conditions | Health and Safety | Code of Conduct as written in the disclaimer - seen later in this bulletin.
3. ALL ENTRIES, PLAYERS, AND COACHES MUST BE ENTERED on Sportdata by the end of the day on Friday, 24 May 2024.
4. This is necessary to enable the tournament organisers to plan more effectively and publish the final timetable before the event.
5. If there are insufficient entries in a particular division, then divisions may be combined or not held.
6. All entry fees must be paid as one club payment by the end of the day on Friday, 24 May 2024.
7. PAYMENT OF ENTRY FEES BY INTERNET BANKING TO KARATE AUCKLAND
   • Internet Banking Westpac Account:  03 0123 0328727 00
   • Add your club name with 'AKLOPN-24' in the bank reference.
8. No late entries or changes to entries will be accepted after the end of the day on Friday, 24 May 2024.

NB: Since these competitions are voluntary programs Karate Auckland does rely on volunteer officials to assist as referees/judges, marshals and table staff. All clubs entering athletes should try to encourage and provide volunteer officials.

When entering data on the sports data system, Clubs should ideally aim to enter the details of one official (Referee, Marshall, or Table Staff ) for every 10 students in the event.

DIVISIONS EXPLAINED

Coaches are responsible for the registration of students in the correct division. Athletes must choose only one experience category (Development or iIntermediate or Premier) in either Kata or Kumite disciplines..

However, athletes can enter different experience categories across Kata or Kumite disciples. For example, an athlete can enter intermediate Kata and Premier Kumite. 

Each Member Club or Association can only enter TWO teams (exclusively MALE & FEMALE ) in one event category. 

Weight categories will vary depending on the number of applications.

DEVELOPMENT EVENT

Suitable for 10th Kyu to 7th Kyu -
Beginner level  “No experience in tournaments” 
We suggest that once they win Gold twice in a category they have to move up the Intermediate division.

INTERMEDIATE EVENT

Suitable for 6th Kyu to 4th Kyu
Suitable for “More experienced in tournaments but not at the premier level yet”
Once you become an Intermediate competitor you can not move back down to Development when you change age groups.
We suggest that once they win Gold twice in a category they have to move up to the Premier division.

PREMIER EVENTS

Open event
Suitable for those with “many years experience of competing in tournaments”
Available for NZ team selection
Once you become a Premier competitor you can not move back down to Development or Intermediate when you change age groups

AGES FOR CATEGORIES FOR THIS TOURNAMENT

Premier, Intermediate, and Development – age as of the date of the competition - 09 June 2024.

CLUB PAYMENT FOR ENTRY FEES BY INTERNET BANKING

A delegate from each club or association must complete all entries and payments. When paying entry fees by Internet banking, please ensure that the payment is for AKL Open. Payments should be made by the club or association as a single aggregate payment.

TOURNAMENT FEES

Individual Entry - fees for the KATA & KUMITE

Kata - 16 Years Old and older
Kumite - 18 Years Old and older

ALL ENTRIES MUST BE ENTERED ONLINE IN SPORTDATA VIA YOUR CLUB INSTRUCTOR OR DESIGNATED CLUB DELEGATE. Whoever registers the athletes for their club in Sportdata is responsible for informing players, coaches, instructors, parents, and supporters of the Terms and Conditions | Health and Safety | Code of Conduct as detailed in the disclaimer - seen later in this bulletin.

TOURNAMENT PROGRAMME

Please consult the draw and timetable on the Sportdata website for final times closer to the tournament time when competitor numbers are confirmed

Provisional:

Sunday 09 June 2024:

Below is subject to change based on entries.

Beginning at 8:00 am – Premier & Intermediate Grades  (KATA, KUMITE, TEAM )
Beginning at 12:00 noon – Development Grades (KATA, KUMITE, TEAM )

TOURNAMENT RULES

• During the bow-in at the beginning of the tournament, all players must be in Gi or Club tracksuits and must present themselves correctly.
• Coaches must wear their club tracksuits.
• A maximum of six coaches can be registered per club.
• WKF Rules will be applied for Premier Grades in this Tournament.
• All entries once accepted are final. Please ensure all entries are completed correctly as incorrect age or weight information may result in disqualification from the tournament.
• Coaches/Clubs, please ensure your player information is up to date in the Sportdata system; athletes get older and heavier/lighter and change grades. (The Sportdata system will only adjust age – not weight or grade).
• Only registered coaches will be allowed on the tatami at any time.
• Registered coaches should have a current First Aid qualification and be aware of the signs of concussion  https://www.accsportsmart.co.nz/concussion/.
• The organising committee reserves the right to withdraw, combine or change event categories if and when required up to 48 hours before the competition commences.
• All players must present themselves to the "Registration Table" and register before their competitions. (Kumite players will be weighed) - Registration times will be posted once the timetable is finalised

TOURNAMENT REQUIREMENTS

KATA

• WKF 2024 rules will apply with the following modifications:

Individual Kata

• Premier competitors -
  • Any approved WKF Kata.
  • No Repeats as per WKF rules.
  • Electronically scored Kata events, as per the WKF rules and table below.
  • Please see the 2024 WKF rules for more details.
• Intermediate competitors –
  • Any Kata from the KNZ Intermediate and Development list.
  • Competitors can not repeat consecutively, i.e. A,B,A,B, ...
  • The WKF flag system will be used.
• Development competitors –
  • Any Kata from the KNZ Development list.
  • Competitors can repeat consecutively, i.e. A,A,A ...  
  • The WKF flag system will be used.

Team Kata

• Under 10 Years old:
  • WKF and the KNZ Kata can be repeated.
  • Bunkai is not required for medal rounds.
  • Ages: 5 - 9 years old, inclusive.
  • Even can be mixed (Male/Female).
• Under 14 years Old:
  • WKF Kata can be repeated, but not consecutively
  • Bunkai is required for medal rounds.
  • Ages: 10 - 13 years old, inclusive
• Under 18 years Old: (Junior and Cadet)
  • WKF Kata can be repeated, but not consecutively.
  • Bunkai is required for medal rounds.
  • Ages: 14 - 17 years old, inclusive
• 16 years plus:
  • WKF Kata in all rounds.
  • No repetition is permitted.
  • Bunkai is required for medal rounds.
  • Must be completed within 5 minutes, including Bunkai.
  • Ages 16-99 years old, inclusive.

• There will be a limit of TWO teams per club/association that can be entered in each male and female category - players entered in the team/s must be registered and financial members of the club entering.

NB: Competitors must announce the name of the Kata they will be performing before they start performing the Kata. They must also bow inside the competition area before starting and bow after completing the Kata. The competitor will be disqualified for failing to do so.

KUMITE

• All Kumite divisions, depending on numbers, could be split into weight divisions, so please ensure your player's weight is correctly entered on Sportdata; otherwise, you may be disqualified from competing (non-WKF weight grades may differentiate weight grades).
• For ages 13 and under, techniques toward the JODAN area (Head, Face, Neck) can score, but NO contact is permitted. Any contact (unless by self-endangerment - Mubobi), including skin touch, will be penalised.
• WKF points, warning, and penalty systems will be used for all Kumite Events.
• For ages 14 and over, the WKF rules will apply

Kumite Bout Duration (Development / Intermediate / Premier / Teams) - Stop Clock

• 06 – 09 years old
  • Development/Intermediate - 1 minute 30 seconds
  • Premier - 2:0 minutes
• 10 – 13 years old
  • Development/Intermediate - 1 minute 30 seconds
  • Premier - 2:0 minutes
• 14 – 17 years old
  • Development/Intermediate - 1 minute 30 seconds
  • Premier - 2:0 minutes
• 18 years and older (U’21 and Senior)
  • Development/Intermediate - 1 minute 30 seconds
  • Premier - 3:0 minutes
• Veteran (35 years and older)
  • Development/Intermediate - 1 minute 30 seconds
  • Premier - 2:0 minutes

NB: Depending on the event numbers, the organising committee may vary the match duration.

Kumite Teams

Clubs have first call on competitors however to maximise participation, All teams are to be named in the entry with two or three players. There is a limit of TWO  teams per club. The age is as of Sunday 009 June 2024.

• 6-9 Years: One player aged 6-7, another aged 7-8 years, and another 8-9 years; a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 3 players in each team.

• 10-13 Years: One player aged 10-11, another aged 11-12 years, and another 12-13 years; a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 3 players in each team.

• 14-17 Years: One player aged 14-15, another aged 15-16 years, and another 16-17 years]; a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 3 players in each team.

• Female 18 years and older: A minimum of 2 and a maximum of 3 players in each team.

• Male 18 years and older: A minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5 players in each team.

• All teams must complete the "Kumite Teams form" (attached under the downloads section) and hand over the duly completed forms to tournament officials on or before 09:00 a.m. on the tournament day.

EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS

All competitors (Kumite and Kata) must wear a clean white Gi in good condition. 

• Competitors who are Premier competitors must follow the WKF rules, i.e. white karate gi without stripes, piping, or personal embroidery.
• ALL PREMIER KUMITE COMPETITORS MUST WEAR Mouthguards, Body protectors, Red and Blue belts, and Red and Blue hand mitts (matching the belt they are competing in). Foot protectors must match the belt colour.
• All Equipment should be KNZ, Oceania, or WKF approved. The referees will give final approval.
• Kumite competitors may wear their own groin protectors (WKF type).
• Female Kumite 11-year-olds and above – Advised to wear approved chest protectors under the body protector.
• Head protection is strongly recommended (but not compulsory); a WKF face mask or other padded protection is deemed acceptable by the tournament organising committee.

KATA & KUMITE EVENT MANAGEMENT

• Kumite and Flagged Kata events: 
• The final decision for events will be made after the number of competing is confirmed.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

• As part of Health and Safety planning, we need to be sure that player weights for Kumite are correct. 
• Therefore, please check that player weights for Kumite are accurate on Club information in Sportdata.
• An incorrect weight category entered could result in disqualification from that particular event.

REFUND POLICY

• Entry Fees will be refunded if a competitor withdraws in writing before Monday 26 February 2024, as the draws will be finalised the next day.
• Refunds after this date will only be considered if a Medical Certificate is provided to the Organising Committee.
• If your event has been cancelled due to a lack of numbers and you have not been able to be reallocated to another event, you will then be entitled to a refund of your entry fee.

Please Note: It is the individual competitor’s responsibility to listen for events being called and to report to the Mat Marshall on time. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.
 

TOURNAMENT ORGANISING COMMITTEE

Information may be updated in preparation. However, this document will be dated to show current information. Any queries, don’t hesitate to contact the secretary of Karate Auckland.

DISPUTES

A Tournament Disputes sub-committee will be established by Karate Auckland to cater for any disputes during and after the tournament. This sub-committee will consist of a senior Referee, a senior Coach and a member of the Karate Auckland EC. Any dispute after the event must submit the dispute/concern in an email to KARATENZ.AUCKLAND@GMAIL.COM and this will be dealt with in a timely manner.